What are Browns to do with 2 good QBs?

Is there room enough on the Browns for Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn?

“That’s a good question,” Quinn said Wednesday.

“I don’t want to get into that,” Anderson said a few minutes earlier.

Steve Doerschuk

Is there room enough on the Browns for Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn?
“That’s a good question,” Quinn said Wednesday.
“I don’t want to get into that,” Anderson said a few minutes earlier.
Browns General Manager Phil Savage got into it after Anderson and Quinn headed out to practice.
Basically, Savage said nothing specific while indicating the Browns are open to every knock-your-socks-off trade offer that might come along after this season.
Savage said loud and clear Anderson will be hard to get.
He indicated the Browns are pleased to have the surprise quarterback of the NFL (Anderson), a rookie Round 1 pick who has looked good in practice (Quinn) and a solid No. 3 (Ken Dorsey).
“Everybody feels like they have to have one (quarterback),” Savage said. “We feel like we have two.”
Savage took a few minutes to share his take on the state of the 7-4 Browns:
Issue: The Browns have gotten deals done with Anderson’s agent, David Dunn. In free agency, Savage signed Dunn clients Gary Baxter and Joe Jurevicius. Negotiations between Savage and Dunn will get serious in the offseason.
Savage: Dave and I have a good relationship. I’ve known him a long time. He seems to find my e-mail and text message me after every game, especially the wins.
Issue: Anderson can be a restricted free agent after the season. The Browns can retain rights to him for 2008 with a contract tender that would require any other team to fork over its first- and third-round picks to sign him. Quarterback-needy teams are likely to hit the Browns with trade offers that could circumvent the free agency scenario. Who will chase Anderson or will Anderson, Quinn and Dorsey with the team again in 2008.
Savage: I’d love to see us go forward with all three and hold on to the depth at the position. (As to options they being considered) That’s for us to know and every else to find out.
Issue: The plan in August was to get Quinn some playing time as soon as he was ready. Quinn is sure he’s ready, but he hasn’t played a down.
Savage: Brady has grown a lot in the offense. He’s getting some pretty quality reps during the week. We’re very comfortable with what Brady has done. One thing that has gone unnoticed is he’s been an excellent teammate. When I see him after games, he seems to be as happy as anyone down there.
Issue: Anderson has benefited from a strong supporting cast on offense. How would Quinn play with that cast if thrown into the fire?
Savage: (It’s a) pretty enviable cockpit to be riding in right now.
Issue: Less than 80 days ago, Anderson watched Charlie Frye start the season opener. Today, Anderson has more 2007 touchdown passes than every QB except Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger.
Savage: Derek has continued to progress. He’s played well. He has done an excellent job overall. There have been some wobbly moments ... but in do or die situations, he’s hit the key passes. You can’t really coach that. Some of it is instinct. Some is his personality.
Issue: The Browns can finish at 10-6, traditionally a cutoff point for the playoffs, by going 3-2 against the Cardinals, Jets, Bills, Bengals and 49ers. The team was 10-22 in Savage’s first two years as GM.
Savage: We’re in position to make something happen with the season. The fact of the matter is the Browns are doing it. They’re finally doing it. Given the tradition, it’s good for the Browns to be back in the conversation across the league.
Issue: The Browns haven’t decided whether to pursue running back Jamal Lewis, who joined the team on a one-year contract.
Savage: Jamal and I have a good relationship. I will keep him in the loop. He’s laid it out there for us. It’s been great to see.
Reach Canton Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com.

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